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Season preview | Sixth Region girls’ basketball at a glance

10:12 p.m. EST November 24, 2013

Butler High School's Danielle Lawrence (14) fights to get her shot off under pressure from Ballard High School's Terra Banks (41) during the championship game of the Queen of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. December 22, 2012(Photo: John Sommers II)

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Outlook: The Lady Bearcats began the second year of a rebuilding program by returning four starters from last year’s team. Beth Haven will also be very young, as only centers Rader and Morgan are seniors. Anna Brown is a junior, Bowles is a sophomore and Davis — whom Mattingly expects to “be a big-time contributor” — is a seventh-grader.

BULLITT CENTRAL

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Coach: Kyle Roach (second season)

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Last season: 11-18, lost to Moore 53-48 in the first round of the 23rd District Tournament

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Outlook: The Lady Cougars are a young squad, having graduated eight seniors from last year’s team. There are no seniors this year, so Roach will look to five juniors for leadership. Sophomores will be key, too, as Graham will work the point and Leonard will play a variety of roles.

BULLITT EAST

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Coach: Chris Stallings (15th season)

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Last season: 24-8, lost to Butler 50-30 in the Sixth Region Semifinals

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Player to watch: G/F Lindsey Duvall (5-10, Fr., 14.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) was a significant contributor off the bench as a middle-schooler last season.

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Outlook: The Lady Chargers return eight players from last year’s team and have set their sights on being in the Sweet 16. Fryman, a senior, is a three-year starter at point guard, and Blain has enjoyed a strong preseason. Stallings looks for Blain to supplement Duvall as a scoring threat. “With our experience, we should be able to tip it up every time we play,” Stallings said.

BUTLER

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Coach: Larry Just (fifth season)

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Last season: 23-8, lost to Mercy 66-54 in the Sixth Region Final

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Player to watch: G/F Danielle Lawrence (5-10, Sr., 14 ppg, 5.9 rpg) played on the Kentucky Junior All-State team over the summer and has committed to IUPUI.

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Outlook: Just has a bonafide leader in Lawrence, whom he calls one of the best players in the state. However, while there’s talent, the rest of the Bearettes lack experience. “As this group learns to defend, rebound and take care of the ball, they will compete at a higher level,” he said.

DOSS

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Coach: Cullen Harris (second season)

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Last season: 1-21, lost to Butler 65-12 in the first round of the 22nd District Tournament

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Outlook: Everyone returns from last year’s team. Harris expects his young squad — there’s only three seniors compared to seven sophomores — to play with plenty of energy and learn from the experience they gained over the summer.

FAIRDALE

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Coach: Kendra Barney (second season)

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Last season: 4-24, lost to Pleasure Ridge Park 74-34 in the semifinals of the 21st District Tournament

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Player to watch: G Narrissa Keown (5-7, Sr., 16 ppg, 6 rpg)

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Other top player: G Amber Alford (5-8, Jr., 10 ppg)

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Outlook: Three starters return for the Lady Bulldogs, who look to build upon those experienced players with the help from a newcomer, junior forward Dejanae Westbrook.

FERN CREEK

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Coach: Monique Reid (first season)

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Last season: 8-19, lost 36-34 to Whitefield Academy in the first round of the 24th District Tournament.

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Outlook: Just months after graduating from U of L, Reid has already had a big impact on her alma mater’s program. Last season, 21 girls tried out for basketball. This season, 40 turned out. The Tigers will be young, but Reid promises they’ll score more than last year’s 38.8 average. “I want to play a fast-paced game,” she said, referring to her planned spread offense. “I told everybody, ‘Shoot the ball. Shoot the ball before we turn it over.’ ” Reid will have some size to work with as Ledo is one of three underclassmen 6-1 or taller.

HOLY CROSS

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Coach: Fred Copass (seventh season)

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Last season: 17-15, lost 66-57 to Butler in the first round of the Sixth Region Tournament

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Outlook: With no player taller than 5-foot-9, the Lady Cougars will rely on their quickness to win games, according to Copass. Hockman is the team’s best one-on-one player, while Miller is the best defender and Morabito is the best pure scorer. “Once we figure out how to rebound and play defense, we could have a nice little team,” he said.

IROQUOIS

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Coach: Robert Taylor (fourth season)

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Last season: 8-15, lost 58-46 to Western in the semifinals of the 22nd District Tournament

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Outlook: Taylor has high expectations for his Lady Raiders, many of whom have been under his direction for the last three years. “My expectation is to compete for the district title and actually compete in the region,” he said. Pryor has worked on her defense in the offseason, and Brown is “a natural team leader.” They will get help inside from Jones, who transferred from Texas. “I look for her to provide a defensive presence in the middle, something we didn’t have last year,” he said.

JEFFERSONTOWN

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Coach: Stephanie Doepke (third season)

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Last season: 8-19, lost 67-50 to Bullitt East in the semifinals of the 24th District Tournament

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Outlook: J’town will be one of the youngest teams in the region, with 11 of the 14 Lady Chargers either in their freshman or sophomore year. Doepke made the decision to bring those young players up to the varsity level and eschew a junior varsity team. “I’m trying to get them to come together to play as a unit for next year and the year after that,” she said. Martin, a returning player, and Newell, who sat out last season after a late transfer, will provide leadership and an inside presence.

MERCY

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Coach: Keith Baisch (first season)

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Last season: 20-11, lost 74-60 to Manual in the first round of the Sweet 16

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Outlook: Baisch takes over a program that’s rich in talent but low on varsity experience. With no seniors on the squad, he’ll look to Martin and Bewley to provide leadership. “I still believe we have a lot to prove and look forward to doing it this year,” he said.

MOORE

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Coach: Glendale Zell (second year)

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Last season: 11-18, lost 76-36 to Pleasure Ridge Park in the first round of the Sixth Region Tournament

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Player to watch: C Day’Shea White

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Other top players: G Tyra Jones, F/G Anastasia Crawford.

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Outlook: Zell must replace all five starters and make up for losing 90 percent of his scoring from last season’s 23rd District runners-up. White is the only senior, and Zell will have to rely on sophomores, freshmen and middle-schoolers. “We have some team speed and White should provide a presence in the middle, but we don’t have a lot of height,” he said.

NORTH BULLITT

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Coach: Amber Courtney (fifth season)

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Last season: 20-12, lost 59-46 to Bullitt East in the first round of the Sixth Region Tournament

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Player to watch: G Savannah Morrison (5-6, Sr., 13.4 ppg, 3.9 apg)

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Other top players: G Kate Downey (5-6, So., 9 ppg, 2.5 apg)

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Outlook: The 23rd District champions from last year return two of their top players. Morrison is a threat from the free-throw line, where she shot 83 percent. Downey can use her quickness to her advantage, as she also averaged 2.5 steals last season. “They could slide in and surprise some people,” PRP coach David Meadows said.

PLEASURE RIDGE PARK

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Coach: David Meadows (second season)

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Last season: 25-7, lost 76-53 to Mercy in the 6th Region Semifinals

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Player to watch: G Paige Murphy (5-9, Sr., 12 ppg); Meadows calls her a throwback, noting she is an excellent 3-point shooter.

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Outlook: The Lady Panthers return three starters from last year’s regional semifinal team, as well as two part-time starters, but Meadows is also looking to bring three freshmen into the rotation. With a brutal schedule, which includes several Seventh Region powers and defending state champ Marion County, PRP will get tested early and often. Shead’s presence inside may prove vital. “When she comes to play, I don’t know if anyone in the region can match her,” Meadows said.

SOUTHERN

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Coach: Kevin Kennedy (eighth season)

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Last season: 5-18, lost 72-32 to North Bullitt in the first round of the 23rd District Tournament

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Outlook: This year’s Lady Trojans will be quicker and deeper, but they’ll also be younger. Kennedy says that means it will be slow going until they learn the system “The returning players have been patient and are helping the girls catch on,” he said. With no player listed taller than 5-7 on the roster, Southern will have to rely on that quickness to win games.

VALLEY

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Coach: Michael Crowe (fourth season)

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Last season: 11-14, lost 85-52 to Holy Cross in the first round of the 21st District Tournament

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Player to watch: G Monae Crowe (Sr., 13.2 ppg, 5 rpg)

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Other top players: G Lanesha Hambrick (Sr.) , C Alexus Bowman (Sr.)

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Outlook: The three seniors will lead the Lady Vikings this year, and each has worked hard to improve. Coach Crowe said Hambrick has focused on her outside shooting, while Bowman has worked on her inside presence. Helping them will be freshman guard Laisha Mitchell. “She is super quick and can score,” Crowe said. “She will help us out tremendously.”

WESTERN

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Coach: Clint Lovely (eighth season)

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Last season: 15-11, lost 76-34 to Mercy in the first round of the 6th Region Tournament

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Player to watch: G Datoria Higgins (5-3, Jr., 16 ppg, 5 rpg)

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Other top players: G/F Dinyell Calvert (5-11, Sr., 14 ppg, 11 rpg)

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Outlook: Higgins and Calvert represent one of the strongest returning duos in the Sixth Region, but Lovely knows they will need to improve if they are to become one of the teams to beat. “Datoria will need to improve on her production,” he said. “She must control the tempo for the Lady Warriors.” Western also adds some size with 6-2 sophomore Jayda Rhodes.

WHITEFIELD ACADEMY

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Coach: Norman Huebner (second season)

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Last season: 15-16, lost 79-17 to Mercy in the semifinals of the 24th District Tournament

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Outlook: Huebner saw progress in the preseason from his Lady Wildcats, whom he hopes can finish above .500 this year. “I think we’re ahead of last year,” he said. “This is their second year with me. They understand what I’m doing.” Blackwell, a three-year starter, is Whitefield’s most athletic player and best defender.